So having 'adjusted' your eyes to lower light levels, you can then dazzle yourself (and the person next to you) by turning your 'individual reading light' on full blast thereby completely destroying any night-vision capability. Doesn't compute. I believe 'dimming the lights' is an urban myth that has just become 'the thing to do' over the years. Prove me wrong and come up with a reference from a national aviation authority, not an in-house airline manual, that requires the dimming of lights for take-off and landing. And I can assure you, there are many airlines that don't bother 'dimming'.